Comic Chapters

We’re Still Looking

So, we’re back after the New Year, which, although only a week old, has already been extraordinarily busy for me. First and foremost, there was this page, which I had to redraw about halfway through when I realized I had totally ruined the scene pacing. Fortunately, it’s not wasted effort, though, as I just shifted my sketches to the next page. But as pages go, this is one of my attempts to tread that fine line between genuine, multi-layered emotion and maudlin dramatic manipulation. Here’s hoping I carried it off! There’s more than one meaning in this scene, see, and… well, whatever. I’m sure everyone “gets it” and I’m just second-guessing myself.

Anyhow, the REALLY big thing is this: I am finally, after close to a decade, eligible to start taking the examinations to obtain my architectural license. This is very good news for me, professionally, as, if, things go off according to schedule, I’ll be able to take the first one at the end of February. There are seven altogether, and because of a number of weird restrictions, special laws in the state where I live, and other factors, the whole process is likely to take the better part of a year, or more. I won’t go into the specifics of my opinions about the registration process (I’d have to use words like “total bullcrap”) or the supposed experts running the whole thing (I’d have to use words like “bozos” or “jackasses,”) but suffice it to say that, like it or not, this is the culmination of a twelve-year-long process and I’m eager to get it over with and get my license – its essentially the final big step in my professional career, short of founding my own company, if I ever do that.

Unfortunately that has ramifications for the comic, as well. Being as how architecture is what I do for a living, as well as being my professional vocation, it is my daily priority. By some measures, it’s harder to become an architect than to become a doctor, in the United States. It’s a very tortuous and difficult process that takes a lot of effort, study and preparation, and that means that from now, more or less, until I’m done with the exams, that will have to take ultimate precedence over all my other activities until this whole process is completed. That being the case, although I will keep working on 6-Commando, there may well be delays and periods of less-than-regular updating, since I’ll be directing most of my energies towards completing my professional work before they change the rules on me again, and make it even harder to complete the process. That might sound cynical or paranoid, but it isn’t: they’ve already done it three times, since I started, and there’s already talk of trying to require new registrants to get TWO licenses now, instead of just one, so I mean, I really have to get on top of this right away.

Please don’t take this as a lack of commitment to the comic on my part – it’s just a matter of necessity and priority. And it won’t be in full swing for a little while yet, anyway. But still, I thought it was worth letting everyone know. I continue to appreciate and to thrive on everyone’s support, and it really helps me keep this comic going. And even if there are delays or such, I will not be stopping – heck, I’m only just getting started!

Anyway, until next week, folks, here’s hoping things go well for you all in 2013. All the best!

So, it would seem that the good Major has feelings for Sarah, she had feelings for her earstwhile gunner, who is more than likely an expanding cloud of radioactive vapor right now. Oh, by the way Major, I hope Mike was able to fix that little radioactive contamination thing, because otherwise, I suppose you don’t have to worry about being incarcerated for too long.

And while I’m being so cheerful, I just realised they don’t have to shoot him for his actions now, not when they can just shove him out a door into the wasteland without any protection and save themselves the bullets.

I wonder how they [Haulley and his men] got them [Rucker and Bronniford] out of MIKE’s … habitat?

I had the impression they changed dimension or something once Rucker went through that door with Sarah, but maybe that was just Rucker’s intoxicated mind playing hell of a trick on him. I guess we’ll see.

Same goes for Sarah’s recovery. If it *is* a recovery. One should think a [I’ll stick to the MIKE’s ascension to god or demi-godhood theory for now] almighty being with the power to purge radioactive contamination from people could heal her eye as well?

And yeah, it’s obvious Rucker has feelings for her. Or maybe he’s just a fool. And a drunk. A foolish drunk or a drunken fool.

…

…

…

[reconsiders his own past actions and facepalms]

Right, totally forgot how love can turn people into fools. Silly me.

We’ve all been there before and probably will make the same mistakes again, right? But they’re totally worth it at the time, am I right or what?

I think we’ve all had moments like that, where something totally blew up in our faces. And if you haven’t, it probably means you’ve been doing it to other people. It’s so hard to work those things out, and so hard to understand how anyone makes it work out at all., when it does go right.

I am glad, thrilled, actually, that the double meaning of the scene came through properly, though! This was one of the first scenes I wrote when I started working on the story (back when it was only four chapters long – hah!). I’m glad it held up so well given all the revisions, because it’s really important.

love the comic, been lurking awhile, and i want to wish you well on the test and legislature, so that you can continue to spend free time writing this. although, i agree with Ulrich that the sudden scene change is off-putting. do try and design the building for the legislators making you licensing to fall down only when they are in session, alright?

I’m glad you stopped lurking and joined the conversation! As to the scene shift, you and most of the readers consistently seem to think three moves ahead of me! So at the moment the best I can say is that if it IS offputting for the moment, give me a little time – I’m going somewhere with it, I promise!

Thanks for the good wishes in re: my exams. Licensing is one of the most tedious and self-defeating rituals in our society, but that’s the way culture works. For now. And I’m going to give them a run for their money!

Me is Sad face
looks like its not the shinniest moment neither in the comic nor in the procces to get you license (if that situation sucked more it would make a great vaccum).
But im sure you will succeed. Good luck to you too!

Yes, well, right now I’m trapped in some kind of computer limbo whereby I’m eligible to register for the exams, but they still won’t let me. Once this whole process is over I plan to advocate that it be abolished forever. I’ll make it the focus of my career!

Thanks for the good wishes, though, anyway! God willing, I won’t get too far behind on the comic.